Kookaburra Sport

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Kookaburra Sport is an Australian sports equipment company, specialising in cricket and hockey equipment, named after the Australian kingfisher. The company notably manufactures the most widely used brand of ball used in international and Test cricket.

[edit] History

The company was founded in 1890 as A.G. Thompson Pty Ltd by Alfred Grace Thompson, a migrant harness and saddle maker who turned to manufacturing cricket balls when his livelihood was threatened by the advent of the motor car. In the mid-1980s, the company diversified into manufacturing the full range of cricket equipment, including bats, clothing, footwear and protective equipment. The recent exclusion of graphite-backed bats from competition is only for International Cricket at this stage. Domestic and club cricketers are allowed to keep using these bats but they will be gradually phased out.

[edit] Kookaburra today

In addition to its Australian operations, Kookaburra has offices in most of the world's major cricket-playing countries: the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and India.

The company sponsors a junior cricket tournament called the Kookaburra Cup. It also has endorsement deals with many players including current Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

They have 3 models of cricket bats both in the UK and in Australia: Kahuna, Blade and Ice; the UK also has the CCX, which has replaced the Beast for 2010. The Beast is still part of the current Australian range.

Kookaburra also manufacture top quality hockey sticks, most notably the ICON range, which is used by many international players.